Ken, does that mean that prior to 2008, 25% or so of all workers were “not the best”? Yet, they were employed, the economy was doing just fine, productivity was high, and so were corporate profits and stock prices.
Could someone list the skills that are needed, today? I keep reading anecdotes from folks with degrees and experience and even with good job reviews who have now been out of work long enough that they will never be rehired in their previous positions and have joined the ranks competing for part-time or low-paid jobs.
We are self employed. We have hung on to about 1/2 of our previous business. This is in an area not all that hard hit by the Depression. One business is in local markets with 2 locations, one is in national markets. Our competition in both businesses has suffered more than we have. In the service business, it is because we offer something people value as necessary. In the manufacturing business, it comes down to a high name recognition in a niche market with no remaining competitors. We have also been able to slash operating and overhead costs, which took creativity.
I am not trying to be argumentative or snarky. I just don’t think the majority of the unemployed had marginal skills or were necessarily poor employees.
If two candidates were identical in every regard, excedpt that one had ben out of work for 2 years, and one for 3 months..then the government program gives the employer an incentive to hire the long term unemployed guy...But suppose the recent guy is a "10" but the long term guy is a 7-8...a good hire, by every example....then the employer is incentivized to NOT make the optimum choice..
And it's the gummint taking YOUR tax $$ and using them to influence your choice...